Vehicle message addressing

ABSTRACT

A vehicle messaging method ( 600 ) and system ( 100 ) can include any number of data sources ( 101 - 103 ), an interface ( 104 ) that formats messages and addresses from the data sources, and a corresponding number of messaging servers ( 111 - 113 ) that receive targeted messages intended for a predetermined subset of subscribers associated with a vehicle identification number (VIN). Each messaging server can include a corresponding controller ( 121 - 123 ) programmed to assign ( 604 ) targeted messages to a predetermined channel and encode ( 606 ) the addresses of the targeted messages to the predetermined subset of subscribers using a VIN or portion thereof. The controller can be further programmed to transfer ( 608 ) the targeted messages and addresses to a satellite uplink ( 107 ) and satellite ( 110 ) via a messaging uplink interface ( 106 ) for retransmission and reception by a plurality of selective call receivers  109  addressable individually using a predetermined VIN or portion thereof.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 60/938,131, filed May 15, 2007, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to methods and systems for addressingvehicles, and more particularly to methods systems for addressing avehicle using vehicle identification numbers or VINs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Satellite radio currently offers well over a hundred channels of contentover a large geographic footprint. A large portion of satellite radiosis pre-installed in current model vehicles without any means ofaddressing or targeting a particular vehicle or a particular class ofvehicles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Addressing or targeting vehicles with wireless messages using a vehicleidentification number (VIN) or a portion of the VIN as part of thecommunication address can enable numerous applications particularlyuseful for the automotive industry among other industries.

In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, avehicle messaging device can include a selective call receiver (such asa satellite digital audio radio) and a decoder coupled to the selectivecall receiver. The decoder can be programmed to determine if a receivedaddress is based on a vehicle identification number, decode a targetedmessage to a specific vehicle identification number if the receivedaddress matches a stored address containing the specific vehicleidentification number, and decode a group targeted message to a range ofvehicle identification numbers if the received address matches a storedaddress containing portions of the vehicle identification number. Thedecoder can be further programmed to decode a broadcast message to allvehicles if the received address has wildcard data that matches a storedaddress. The stored address can be pre-stored in the vehicle messagingdevice or can be retrieved over a vehicle's communication bus from aremote memory. The decoder can be further programmed to determine if thereceived address is based on a subscriber identifier, a hardwareidentifier, a group identifier, the vehicle identification number or anycombination thereof. The vehicle messaging device can be addressed witha message to a single vehicle identification number, to multiple vehicleidentification numbers using wildcards, or a plurality of vehicleidentification numbers using a range of vehicle identification numbers.The targeted message or group targeted message can be a command andcontrol message, a service message, a service authorization message, asoftware or firmware update, a file download, a text message, an audiomessage, an image, or a video.

In a second embodiment, a vehicle messaging system can include amessaging server receiving targeted messages intended for apredetermined subset of subscribers associated with a vehicle having avehicle identification number and a controller coupled to the messagingserver. The controller can be programmed to assign targeted messagesfrom a predetermined manufacturer to a predetermined channel and encodethe addresses of the targeted messages to the predetermined subset ofsubscribers using a vehicle identification number or a portion of thevehicle identification number. The controller can be further programmedto transfer the targeted messages and encoded addresses to a satelliteuplink for transmission of the targeted messages and encoded addressesto one or more satellites for retransmission to a predeterminedsatellite coverage area. The system can further include a plurality ofselective call receivers addressable individually using a predeterminedvehicle identification number or addressable in predetermined groupsusing a portion of a vehicle identification number. The selective callreceivers can be satellite digital audio radio receivers, althoughembodiments herein are not limited to such receivers. The plurality ofselective call receivers can each include a decoder coupled to aselective call receiver. The decoder can be programmed to determine if areceived address is based on the vehicle identification number, decode atargeted message to a specific vehicle identification number if thereceived address matches a stored address containing the specificvehicle identification number, and decode a group targeted message to arange of vehicle identification numbers if the received address matchesa stored address containing portions of the vehicle identificationnumber.

In a third embodiment, a method of vehicle message addressing caninclude the steps of receiving targeted messages intended for apredetermined subset of subscribers associated with a vehicle having avehicle identification number, assigning targeted messages from apredetermined manufacturer to a predetermined channel, and encoding theaddresses of the targeted messages to the predetermined subset ofsubscribers using a vehicle identification number or a portion of thevehicle identification number. The method can further include the stepof transferring the targeted messages and encoded addresses to asatellite uplink and transmitting the targeted messages and encodedaddresses to one or more satellites for retransmission to apredetermined satellite coverage area.

The method can further include the steps of transmitting the targetedmessages and encoded addresses to a plurality of selective callreceivers associated with vehicle identification numbers, determining ifa received address is based on a vehicle identification number, decodinga targeted message to a specific vehicle identification number if thereceived address matches a stored address containing the specificvehicle identification number, and decoding a group targeted message toa range of vehicle identification numbers if the received addressmatches a stored address containing portions of the vehicleidentification number. Decoding a broadcast message to all vehicles inone example can be done if the received address has wildcard data thatmatches a stored address. As noted above, the VIN can be stored locallyor optionally obtained via a vehicle's communication bus. The method canfurther include the step of determining if the received address is basedon a subscriber identifier, a hardware identifier, a group identifier,the vehicle identification number or any combination thereof. Note, thestep of encoding can be done by addressing a message to a single vehicleidentification number, to multiple vehicle identification numbers usingsingle or multiple wildcards, or to a plurality of vehicleidentification numbers using a range of vehicle identification numbers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is block diagram of vehicle messaging system in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of how messages are targeted to either aspecific VIN, a range of VINs, or to all cars in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a receiver unit using VIN addressing inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an illustration showing a VIN addressing architecture inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an illustration showing another VIN addressing architecture inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method of VIN addressing inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Satellite radio operators are providing digital radio broadcast servicescovering the entire continental United States with the hope of furthercovering other areas of the Americas. These services offer approximately100 channels, of which nearly 50 channels in a typical configurationprovides music with the remaining stations offering news, sports, talkand data channels. Briefly, the service provided by XM Satellite Radioincludes a satellite X-band uplink to two satellites which providefrequency translation to the S-band for re-transmission to radioreceivers on earth within a coverage area. Radio frequency carriers fromone of the satellites are also received by terrestrial repeaters. Thecontent received at the repeaters is retransmitted at a different S-bandcarrier to the same radios that are within their respective coverageareas. These terrestrial repeaters facilitate reliable reception ingeographic areas where Geosynchronous Satellite reception is obscured bytall buildings, hills or other natural obstructions, tunnels, or otherobstructions. The signals transmitted by the satellites and therepeaters are received by satellite digital audio radio system (SDARS)receivers which can be located in automobiles, in handheld or instationary units for home or office use. The SDARS receivers aredesigned to receive one or both of the satellite signals and the signalsfrom the terrestrial repeaters and combine or select one of the signalsas the receiver output.

Each SDARS receiver contains a unique Hardware Identification number(HWID), which is assigned during the manufacturing process and is usedby SDARS Service Providers to enable or disable the radio to receivesubscribed services, such as music and talk programming. In addition,these subscribed services could include data services, such as weatherand traffic data feeds or other custom data feeds. The custom data feedsare typically uniquely enabled by the SDARS Service Provider for selectsubscriber groups, which may include owners of a specific manufacturer'svehicles.

Since the SDARS receivers are assigned their HWIDs during the separatereceiver manufacturing process and are not ordered by HWID during thevehicle manufacturing process, each sequential Vehicle IdentificationNumber (VIN) assigned during the vehicle manufacturing process will haveassociated with it a relatively random HWID. With this randomrelationship between HWIDs and VINS, in order to address a message to arange of VINs using the SDARS receiver HWID would require an individualmessage to be sent to each HWID in the VIN range, which would result invery inefficient use of bandwidth.

Although existing telematics systems using cellular and GlobalPositioning System (GPS) technology, such as the On-Star system,currently track vehicles and provide services such as dispatchingemergency road side assistance upon detection of certain detected eventsat the vehicle, no existing system is able to address a single vehicleor a selected group of vehicles in a targeted fashion using a vehicleidentification number as part of an addressing scheme in a comprehensivemanner suitable for both consumers and manufacturers of such vehicles.

Referring to FIG. 1, a vehicle messaging system 100 can include amessage originating portion, a message formatting portion, a deliverysystem portion, and an end-user portion. The message origination portioncan include any number of data sources (101, 102, through 103) that canbe represented in a real world example by any number of databasescontrolled or operated by vehicle manufacturers. The formatting portionof system 100 can include a high level messaging interface 104 thatformats messages and addresses from the data sources (101-103) as wellas a corresponding number of messaging servers 111, 112 through 113 thatreceive targeted messages intended for a predetermined subset ofsubscribers associated with a vehicle having a vehicle identificationnumber. Each messaging server 111, 112, or 113 can include acorresponding controller 121, 122, or 123 coupled to the messagingserver. The controller can be programmed to assign targeted messagesfrom a predetermined manufacturer to a predetermined channel and encodethe addresses of the targeted messages to the predetermined subset ofsubscribers using a vehicle identification number or a portion of thevehicle identification number. The controller can be further programmedto transfer the targeted messages and encoded addresses to deliverysystem including a satellite uplink 107 via a messaging uplink interface106. The satellite uplink 107 can transmit the targeted messages andencoded addresses to one or more satellites (110) for retransmission toa predetermined satellite coverage area that can have a nationwide ormultinational or multi-continental footprint. The system can furtherinclude a plurality of selective call receivers 109 addressableindividually using a predetermined vehicle identification number oraddressable in predetermined groups using a portion of a vehicleidentification number. The selective call receivers can be satellitedigital audio radio receivers used by end users, although embodimentsherein are not limited to such receivers.

The architecture presented can also provide a double or two-layerprotection against mistaken delivery of targeted messages. Data from afirst data source is protected from being delivered to another datasource target. The first layer of protection can involve a dedicatedmessaging and data channel per data source or car manufacturer in anautomobile scenario. The second layer of protection can involve checkingthe message VIN address to determine if a particular vehicle or class ofvehicles is the target for a message. Only if the VIN address is atarget address is the decrypted message payload sent via a data channelto a host processor in a vehicle radio, for instance.

Referring to FIG. 2, an illustration of how messages can be targeted toeither an individual VIN, to a group of VINs or to all end usersregardless of VIN is provided. In one example, a particular address typecan include broadcast messages 202 that would be received and decoded byall end users 203 having any VIN. In a broader embodiment, a broadcastmessage 202 can be received and decoded by not just end users having aVIN, but all users regardless of whether they have a VIN associated withtheir address or not. The broadcast message 202 can include stockquotes, sports scores, navigation system map updates such as additionalpoints of interest (POI), local weather or local traffic, as examples.In another example, the particular address type can include groupmessages 204 that can be addressed to a particular subset of end users205 having VINs. The group messages 204 can be addressed, for example,to devices having a range of VINs or using wildcards in portions of theVINs. For example, a group message can be addressed to VINs in asequence from 105024 to 122315. In another example, the group messagecan be addressed to VINs in year “XX” having types “A-G”, where “XX”designates a wildcard for any year. The group message can beparticularly useful for vehicle recall messages, customer alerts, orsimilar information, as messages can be addressed using wildcards to aspecific model (or group of models) in a specific year or range ofyears. In yet another example, the particular address type can includeindividual messages 206 targeted to an individual or specific car 207having a specific VIN. The individual message 206 can be a servicemessage (reminders for oil service, tire rotation, new tires, etc.), acontrol message (to open a lock, to safely disable an ignition, togovern speed or gas intake, etc.), or images or download files sent to aparticular address indicated by a VIN.

The plurality of selective call receivers can each include a decodercoupled to a selective call receiver. Referring to FIG. 3, a receiverunit 300 can include a tuner or receiver 302 coupled to a decoder 304.The decoder 304 can be programmed to determine if a received address isbased on the vehicle identification number 308, decode a targetedmessage to a specific vehicle identification number if the receivedaddress matches a stored address containing the specific vehicleidentification number, and decode a group targeted message to a range ofvehicle identification numbers if the received address matches a storedaddress containing portions of the vehicle identification number. Theaforementioned decoder function can occur at the decoder 304, oralternatively, can occur at a host controller 306. The VIN informationused for matching with the received address can be stored in the decoder304 or the controller 306, or alternatively, in a remote location suchas in a vehicle's electronic memory 310. Access to such VIN informationfrom the vehicle can be made available over the vehicle's communicationbus.

Referring to FIG. 4, a VIN addressing or matching architecture or scheme400 is illustrated. A VIN addressing scheme can be devised in variousways, but using some of the existing VIN specific fields can enablelogical group addressing schemes. A VIN address description includes afirst section having a World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), a secondsection having a Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) that might indicate amodel, and a Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS). Each of these sectionscan have subsections. For example, the WMI can include a country field,manufacturer field, and a type field. The VIS can include a year codefield, a plant field, and a sequence number. The standardized VehicleIdentification Number, or VIN, was mandated by Federal legislation andregulations, and must appear on all vehicles manufactured after 1980.

More specifically, the VIN contains six sections: (1) The WorldManufacturer Identification, or WMI, identifies the country and companythat assembled the vehicle. In the United States, the WMI is assigned bythe Society for Automotive Engineering (SAE); (2) The model year of thevehicle, using a single-letter code is standardized for allmanufacturers; (3) The model description, in a format chosen by themanufacturer; (4) The manufacturing plant, in a format chosen by themanufacturer; (5) The serial number of the vehicle, in a format chosenby the manufacturer; and (6) a check digit used to validate the VIN'svalidity. The check digit is calculated using an algorithm which isstandardized for all manufacturers. The position of each VIN componentwithin the VIN is also standardized:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 WMI Model Check Yr PlantSerial DigitWhere:The positions 1-3 of the VIN covers the WMI, positions 4-8 covers themodel of the vehicle, position 9 is the check digit, position 10 is theyear code, position 11 is the plant code, and positions 12-17 cover theserial number.

In one arrangement as illustrated in FIG. 4, each field of P1 throughP11 can be stored in 6 bits which allows 64 possible values—

0-32: specify an exact match of that field.

33-57: RFU

58: mask 33 bits (values 0-9, A-Z)-33 bit field follows (2 words)

59: mask 24 bits left (values 0-9, A-P)-24 bit field follows (1 word)

60: mask 24 bits center (values 6-9, A-Y)-24 bit field follows (1 word)

61: mask 24 bits right (values 9, A-Z)-24 bit field follows (1 word)

62: current field is wildcard—nothing follows remaining fields

63: all subsequent fields are wildcard—nothing follows, all remainingfields are deleted

Please note that for all the masks described above, the characters ‘I’,‘O’, and ‘Q’ are excluded from the character set (for VINs) therebyresulting in a maximum of 33 used characters.

For Sequence Number (P12 through P17), the entire 6 fields can berepresented by a number stored in 20 bits—

A 2-bit value will specify how Sequence Number is matched—

0: Wildcard, nothing follows

1: Single match, a single 20-bit value follows

2: Range, two 20-bit values follow (start of range and end of range)

3: Range starting at zero, one 20-bit value follows (end of range)

20-bit values—

0-999,999: match value or start/end of range.

1000000-1048576: RFU

The particular example illustrated in FIG. 4 using this scheme can havethis match string match all WMI=1N0, 1N1, 1N2, 1NA, 1NB, 1NC, vehicledescriptor fields D7XXX (where X are wildcards), model year 2006, withsequence numbers between 105,024 and 122,354.

Within a messaging format 500 as illustrated in FIG. 5, the VIN matchingaddress can reside within a messaging channel data field and within amessage packet that can designate the message type as a VIN addressedmessage among other types of addressed messages. As noted, the messagingtypes can include a type using VIN descriptors, subscriber IDdescriptors, hardware ID descriptors, or group ID descriptors. Withinthe message packet field, a message field can further include a targetdescriptor and the actual message content. The actual message contentcan be any number of things including text messages, picture files,sound files, vehicle subsystem program files, video files or other fileor data types. Within the target descriptor can be various types offields depending on the type of message being sent. If a message typeusing VIN descriptors is used, then the target descriptor contains 1through N descriptors. If a message type using a Subscriber IDdescriptor(s) is used, then the target descriptor can contain an SLIST.If a message type using a Hardware ID descriptor(s) is used, then thetarget descriptor can contain an HLIST. If a message type using Group IDdescriptors is used, then the target descriptor can contain a GLIST. TheSLIST, HLIST, or GLIST can be a predetermined length descriptor.

A method 600 of vehicle message addressing can include the step 602 ofreceiving targeted messages intended for a predetermined subset ofsubscribers associated with a vehicle having a vehicle identificationnumber, assigning targeted messages from a predetermined manufacturer toa predetermined channel at step 604, and encoding the addresses of thetargeted messages to the predetermined subset of subscribers using avehicle identification number or a portion of the vehicle identificationnumber at step 606. The method 600 can further include the step 608 oftransferring the targeted messages and encoded addresses to a satelliteuplink and transmitting the targeted messages and encoded addresses toone or more satellites for retransmission to a predetermined satellitecoverage area. At step 610, the method 600 can further transmit thetargeted messages and encoded addresses to a plurality of selective callreceivers associated with vehicle identification numbers and determineat step 612 if a received address is based on a vehicle identificationnumber. At step 614, the method can decode a targeted message to aspecific vehicle identification number if the received address matches astored address containing the specific vehicle identification number andalternatively decode a group targeted message to a range of vehicleidentification numbers if the received address matches a stored addresscontaining portions of the vehicle identification number. Decoding abroadcast message to all vehicles in one example can be done if thereceived address has wildcard data that matches a stored address. Asnoted above, the VIN can be stored locally or optionally obtained via avehicle's communication bus. The method 600 can further include the step616 of determining if the received address is based on a subscriberidentifier, a hardware identifier, a group identifier, the vehicleidentification number or any combination thereof. Note, the step ofencoding can be done by addressing a message to a single vehicleidentification number, to multiple vehicle identification numbers usingwildcards, or to a plurality of vehicle identification numbers using arange of vehicle identification numbers.

A message delivery protocol as illustrated can enable, for example,individual message delivery to a car radio (e.g., text message), ordelivery to multiple VINs using wild card capabilities or using adesignation of ranges. The message applications can include command andcontrol messages, service message deliveries (e.g., for opening cardoors, trunks or other functions), file downloads, text, audio, imageand video messages, or promotional messages (e.g., JPEG image of newmodels). Another message application can include software updates for“Y” Year designated vehicles or a range of VINs, for example.

The description above is intended by way of example only and is notintended to limit the present invention in any way except as set forthin the following claims.

We claim:
 1. A method of vehicle message addressing, the methodcomprising the steps of: receiving, from a manufacturer, at least onetargeted message intended for a predetermined subset of subscribers,wherein each subscriber of the predetermined subset of subscribers isassociated with a vehicle that comprises a specific vehicleidentification number; assigning the received at least one targetedmessage to a predetermined channel for transmission over a satellite orcommunications network; and encoding an address of the received at leastone targeted message to address the predetermined subset of subscribersby encoding the address with at least a portion of a first vehicleidentification number, the portion corresponding to a plurality ofvehicle identification numbers, said plurality of vehicle identificationnumbers including the specific vehicle identification number of eachvehicle of the predetermined subset of subscribers, wherein the encodingis performed by addressing the at least one targeted message to at leastone of a single vehicle identification number, multiple vehicleidentification numbers using wildcards, a plurality of vehicleidentification numbers using the range of addresses, and a combinationof a vehicle identification number and hardware identification number.2. The method of claim 1, further comprising—transferring the at leastone targeted message containing the encoded address to a satelliteuplink; and transmitting the at least one targeted message containingthe encoded address to one or more satellites for retransmission to apredetermined satellite coverage area.
 3. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: transmitting the at least one targeted message containingthe encoded address to at least one selective call receiver of aplurality of selective call receivers, wherein each selective callreceiver of the at least one selective call receiver is associated witha specific vehicle identification number; determining at the at leastone selective call receiver if the message is of a vehicleidentification number type; and decoding with the at least one selectivecall receiver, the at least one targeted message containing the encodedaddress when one of the encoded address comprises a stored addresscontaining a specific vehicle identification number; and the encodedaddress comprises a range of addresses that comprises the stored addresscontaining the specific vehicle identification number.
 4. The method ofclaim 3, further comprising decoding with the at least one selectivecall receiver the at least one targeted message containing the encodedaddress when the encoded address comprises wildcard data that matchesthe stored address containing the specific vehicle identificationnumber.
 5. The method of claim 3 further comprising determining˜with theat least one selective call receiver whether the encoded address of theat least one targeted message containing the encoded address is based onat least one of a subscriber identifier, a hardware identifier, or agroup identifier.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the encoding theaddress comprises using at least one of a particular vehicleidentification number, a range of values for at least one character ofthe first vehicle identification number, and a wildcard value for atleast one character of the first vehicle identification number.
 7. Themethod of claim 6, wherein the range of values corresponds to a sequenceof vehicle identification numbers.
 8. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: transmitting the at least one targeted message containingthe encoded address to at least one selective call receiver of aplurality of selective call receivers.
 9. The method of claim 8, whereinthe at least one selective call receiver comprises at least one of asatellite digital audio radio receiver, a terrestrial frequencymodulated radio receiver, and a cellular radio receiver.
 10. The methodof claim 9, wherein each selective call receiver of the at least oneselective call receiver is associated with a specific vehicleidentification number.